A fortnight and a half passed before Addison worked up the courage to visit the Necrodopolus cottage. She had been waiting for her parents to cool down from the Zombies first visit to the castle and the hanging of a guard caused by it.
Addison had to hunt down her cousin and Knight-in-training to help her sneak out of the castle, considering she had been grounded and wasn't sure if she could leave now that her time had been well served.
"I need your help."
"No."
Addison moved in front of her cousin, blocking him from leaving his room. "You don't even know what I was going to ask," she pointed out.
"Something ridiculous that you aren't supposed to do."
"Bucky."
"You're already in enough trouble as it is," Bucky pointed out. "Your parents are still livid about the stunt you pulled with Sir Collins."
"It wasn't some 'stunt', okay? He attacked a small child without any information other than her being small and defenseless and him being bigger and stronger with more power."
"She was a Zombie," Bucky stated. "No one would have cared if you had mentioned that at the beginning."
"Her race shouldn't matter," Addison stated. "She's a little kid who was just skipping and singing and was attacked. I did the right thing, and I don't care who objects."
Bucky rolled his eyes and sighed in frustration. "Addison, I will be on call tonight. I need to get some rest."
"Will you please help me?" Addison gave her best sympathetic and pleading face. "I'm your baby cousin, you always help me."
Bucky sighed defeatedly. "Okay, I'll help. What do you need?"
There were guards at every possible entrance/exit. Lucky for Addison, there were a few secret exits that only a few people in the castle knew about. Bucky didn't know where they were, but he was close with the housemaids who did.
"The only persons ever back here are the three of us and Lady Lee," the housemaid Lacey told her. "Lady Lee will be here at dusk to secure the lock, so you must be back before them. If you fail to return before dusk, then you would have to use the main entrance."
"Do not get caught," Stacey added. "Otherwise the king will have our heads."
"I'll be back before dusk," Addison assured them. "Thank you again. You three are splendid."
Stacey, Lacey, and Tracey nodded. Tracey lifted the hatch open for the princess. "It's about a three meter drop, try to land on your feet. To get back up you must feel around for the rocks in the wall similar to a ladder."
"There are dresses for the common folk at the end of the tunnel," Lacey added. "I recommend you change so you can remain inconspicuous."
Addison nodded. "Anything else I should know?"
"Be safe," Stacey said nervously. "I can't fathom the consequences we would face if the king and queen found out we helped you sneak out and you got hurt."
"I'll return in one piece," Addison assured them. "Don't breathe a word of this to anyone."
The three housemaids nodded. Addison went ahead and started removing her hair pieces and jewelry. She put her belongings in a basket which Stacey then hid. Addison crouched down, then jumped into the hole.
Addison had wrapped her head in a dark purple shawl and kept her head down as she moved through Seabrook and to the outskirts where Zombietown lay. She did her best to stay hidden as she made her say through the streets and to Zed's cottage.
The door was cracked open and she walked in, letting it close fully behind herself. "Hello?" she called into the seemingly empty house.
There was no response, so Addison made her way to the hall that Zoey had taken her down the weeks before. "Zedekiah? Zoey? Is someone here?"
Cautiously she peered into the washroom, disappointed to find it empty. From behind her, another door creaked open. She froze for a second, not willing to move and face what was behind her but anxious to see if Zed were there.
"Your Highness?"
All the tension left her shoulders and she spun around to face Zed. She smiled brightly and lunged, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him. He made a noise of surprise and hit the wall, hesitantly wrapping his arms around her.
"I wasn't sure if it were really you or I was imagining your voice," he admitted.
If possible she smiled wider. "It's actually me," she confirmed. "And it's you! I've missed you!"
"Me?"
Addison nodded. She took a step back and looked up at him. "I would've come earlier, but I've been under stern watch by every guard and housemaid imaginable. My parents were so upset with me for executing Sir Collins, and how unremorseful I was about it."
Zed's eyes widened. "You killed him?"
Addison nodded. "To be precise he was hung in the square so all could see the cruel punishment. But yes, he's dead."
"Grut," he swore.
Addison didn't speak Zombie but it didn't sound like a good word. Her smile turned into a frown at the thought something was wrong. "Is there a problem?" she asked.
Zed shook his head. "I need a minute to process is all," he said nervously. "He's really dead?"
Addison nodded. "It was a public affair, I'm shocked you didn't know."
"Back injury, if you don't recall."
Addison nodded again. Zed leaned against the wall and sighed. "What's the matter?" Addison pressed.
"I feel as if his blood work is on my hands," Zed stated. "I should have kept my eyes on Zoey. He'd still be alive…I feel so guilty."
Addison frowned. "You are not the one who tied the rope around his neck or who slashed his palms and wrists. Granted, I'm not either. But he knew his fate was sealed when he acted the way he did. You can't change that."
Zed just looked at her, worries and unconvinced. "If you hadn't gotten there, Zoey would be dead and his death would have been more cruel and vicious," she added. "You saved your sister's life, while he tried to end it. Attempted murder is a serious crime, especially when it pertains to a child. In addition to that you were seriously wounded. Imagine if the sword had cut further into your skin or had struck your spinal cord. You could be dead or paralyzed. I cannot even think which would be worse."
"Your Highness," Zed said exasperated. "We're Zombies. We don't get treated as…as normal or as humans. No one cares about us."
Addison stepped forward and touched his arm gently. "I care, Zed," she said softly. "Not just because you're my people, not just because it's my responsibility as your future queen to serve and protect all those in Seabrook. I care because the more I get to know you, the more I want you in my life. And I refuse to let anyone stop that."
Zed felt his mouth go dry. "Drogi Z," he muttered.
Before Addison could ask what he had said, Zed stepped forward and leaned down, pressing his lips to hers in a chaste kiss. He pulled back so their faces were inches apart, his eyes searching over her face. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I shouldn't have done that."
"You should do it again," Addison whispered. She looked him in the eyes and added, "Please."
And so he did.
Zed had taken Addison into his bedroom. He had laid down on his bed and Addison sat on the trunk beside him. She had asked to see the wound on his back and was surprised to see it was still red and inflamed and not close to healed, even after two and a half weeks.
"I tore the stitches several days ago," Zed explained. "I was told to rest and didn't. I was gathering up laundry and then it happened."
"It must have hurt," Addison pointed out. "How did you get it sewn together again?"
"My neighbor was a nurse in the war before she became a Zombie," Zed explained. "We don't have numbing agents like you have in the castle, and I'm sure it'll become infected sometime soon."
Addison frowned. "You seem oddly content with that fate," she pointed out.
Zed shrugged. "I'm a Zombie, your Highness. I've dealt with worse."
"You shouldn't have to."
Zed didn't respond. He laid his head on his pillow and looked at Addison. "How are things in Princess-land?" Then, with a smirk and an eyebrow wiggle, he added, "Kiss any frogs?"
Addison giggled. "What are you talking about?"
"You're supposed to be finding your Prince, of course," he explained. "I mean, no one could be as handsome and charming as me, but I'm sure your parents have a line of suitors waiting for you."
"I was locked in my room for two weeks," she stated. "I couldn't possibly meet any men. And even if, it's you I wish to marry. Not some strange prince who desires me for my dowry."
"And what makes you think my family wouldn't want a dowry?" Zed teased. "We're significantly poor, you know. A princess's dowry would change everything around here."
Addison couldn't help the smirk that come to her face. "What would you do with such a dowry, huh?"
Zed smiled sincerely. "I'd share it evenly with everyone in Zombietown."
Addison's grin softened into a smile. "Zed, everything you say just makes me love you even more. You're so sweet and caring."
Zed smiled at her. "You're pretty great too," he said softly.
Addison moved so she was sitting on his bed, then leaned down and kissed his temple. "You should get some rest," she told him. "And I should be going, before they notice I'm gone."
Zed nodded in understanding. "Will I see you again?" he asked hopefully.
Addison wasn't sure. She'd been lucky that her instructor had gotten sick and she had been left with a clear schedule. But she was the princess and was under stern and watchful eyes constantly. Sneaking out again would be near impossible.
It didn't change the fact that she was in love with Zed.
"Tomorrow," she assured him.
She spent the morning being fitted for six new dresses. Lady Lee tightened her corset tighter than usual and when Addison complained, Lady Lee told her, like she always did, "A proper wife was a thin waist and a lovely set of hips. You have neither. You're imperfect, but we need to marry you off soon so we must mold you."
Lacey and Stacey held the pins and the excess fabric while Lady Lee worked. Addison got poked with pins and accidentally sewn to her dress six times before lunch came. Lady Lee made continue o wear the corset through the meal and remainder of the day, even though she wouldn't be there to be sure she followed through.
By a stroke of luck, the Shoreline Ambassador had cancelled last minute. He had been coming to inspect Seabrook before they sent their youngest heir to throne as a potential suitor for Addison. His carriage lost several wheels before they had even left their own kingdom and had rescheduled for the next day.
When Addison found out she wouldn't be meeting with anyone that day she took it as her opportunity to follow through on her promise to Zed.
"Will you keep your corset on?" Lacey asked.
Addison nodded. "I wouldn't want to anger Lady Lee," she explained. "Thank you again, ladies."
"It's our honor to aid the princess, whatever she needs," Lacey stated with a nod.
Then Stacey added. "Though you refuse to share your intentions in the common areas, we trust you and your judgement."
Addison nodded and swallowed nervously. She felt guilty for keeping her actions from them, but no one could know she was sneaking out to meet a Zombie she'd fallen in love with. She left through the hole. Unbeknownst to her, Stacey and Lacey had followed her several paces behind.
Like the day before, Zed was in his bedroom laying on his bed. He wasn't sleeping. Rather, he had a small book open on his pillow and was reading under his breath. It was adorable and Addison stood in the doorway and watched him for several minutes before walking into the room and announcing herself.
Zed looking back at her and did his best to keep his face neutral, though his eyes shone brightly. "I wasn't sure if you were returning," he said softly. "I missed you."
Addison smiled brighter and walked over, leaning down and kissing his temple. She winced as her corset dug into her skin and tried to play it off. Zed noticed her pain and furrowed his brows. "What is the matter? Are you in pain?"
Addison shrugged simply. She sat down on the edge of his bed where his legs curled. "My lady-in-waiting tightened my corset today," she explained. "I'm meeting Prince Charles XIV of Shoreline in two days and she wants me to look more like a woman and less like a piece of dry wood." Addison laughed lightly at the end and Zed joined her.
"Don't worry, you're nowhere near dry wood."
"My my Zed," she tsked. "You believe I have breasts large enough to land a prince? Or wide hips to allure a man with dreams of children?"
Zed shook his head. "No, but you're perfect the way you are," he said to her. He sat up and began unbuttoning her dress, sending chills down her spine. He stopped when he reached the knot of her corset, then pulled on it until it came undone.
"I love you just the way you are," he said softly, pressing his lips to the skin of her back. A strange sound escaped her lips—like a small and frail animal, almost a whimper.
"Zed," she whispered. "I…I love you. I love, but—"
"Say less," Zed interrupted. He tied her corset loosely, then buttoned her dress up again. "I wouldn't even consider taking advantage of you. You're perfect. You deserve the world."
Addison turned to face him. She lifted her hand and cradled his jaw in her hand. "You are my world."
Six days. That's four days after Prince Charles XIV visited and attempted to win her hand in marriage. He was cocky and showy, everything that wasn't Addison's speed. Her parents were upset with how picky she was. Addison didn't care; she went and saw Zed everyday after that. Everyday for four days.
Addison was spending the afternoon with Zed as she always did. His stitches were healing at an accelerated rate, Something he said was because of his Zombie abilities. Zoey was with them, doing the laundry Zed couldn't do because of his injury.
The door swung open and off one hinge. Everyone in the room looked up in surprise as three guards—including Bucky—burst in, swords drawn. "Get off of the princess at once!" Bucky's exclaimed, stepping closer and pushing Zed to the ground.
Addison looked on with horror and found herself cowering back on the bed. Zoey had moved to the wall and curled into a ball as Bucky kicked his armored foot into the zombie's gut. "You disgusting, dead-eyed monster," he spat.
"Stop it!" Addison cried. "He's done nothing wrong!"
One of the guards—Sir Edgar—stepped closer to her. "Stand down, your Highness," he warned. "We have an arrest warrant for Zedekiah Necrodopolus from the king."
Addison's face crumbled. "Th-that can't be true!" she said shakily. "He's done nothing wrong!"
Bucky shook his head. He crouched down beside the cowering Zombie-in-pain, forcing him up to his knees. "You and your family are being detained for crimes against the throne," Bucky stated formally. He looked at the other guard—Stevens—and said, "Put the little one in chains."
"No!" Addison shouted. She felt her eyes watering. She looked on helplessly as Stevens yanked the crying little girl up and against the wall.
Bucky resheathed his sword and removed his chains. He slapped Zed with the back of his hand, making sure to use the sharp metal of his gloves to rip apart his cheeks and make the Zombie cry out in pain. "Don't you dare look me in the eye," Bucky warned.
Addison crawled off the bed and stepped toward Zed, only to be blocked by Edgar. "Your presence is requested by their majesties," he told her. "Leave them to deal with the monsters."
"No!" Addison exclaimed, attempting to move around him.
He grabbed her arm, rough and violent, and began pulling her toward the door. "King Dale would like to see you immediately," he said with more force.
Addison cried and fought to get out of the knight's firm grip. She reached out for Zed and looked into his fear-filled eyes. "Zed has done nothing wrong!" Addison cried. "Let him go! Release me! Stop!"
Bucky slapped Zed again, hard enough to send him to the floor, putting his foot on his head. "Look at her again and you won't make it to your cell," Bucky warned.
Tears began falling from her eyes. "Bucky stop!" she cried.
Stevens moved from the wall, dragged Zoey by a chain link with cuffs around her wrists behind her back and around her neck. "She's just a kid!" Addison cried. "Don't hurt her!"
Edgar yanked on her arm and dragged her out of the room. Addison drained her neck to look inside once more, seeing Zed mouth 'I'm sorry' before she was gone.
She spent the evening locked in her room crying. Addison moved her dresser to block the main door, then any other loose furniture to block the two other entrances. She didn't want to see anyone. Through her window, she saw a fire burning deep in Seabrook, far into Zombietown. With a sickening feeling, she realized they were burning the Necrodopolus cottage.
Addison cried harder at the thought. She should've kept her distance, she shouldn't have gotten involved with him. They'd brought in his little sister, barely seven years old. They probably brought his father in. They would abuse and beat Zed, sentence him to a cruel and public death. They'd kill Zoey, they'd kill the father she'd never met.
The entire Necrodopolus family would be dead soon because she couldn't just fall in love with a prince or someone her parents would approve of.
Eventually she cried herself to sleep and woke up with red and puffy eyes. She went about her morning slow and reluctantly, opting to avoid the dining room and skip breakfast than to face her parents.
She stayed in her room until lunchtime, when her room door was forced open by Edgar and Stevens and her housemaids entered in after them.
"Your presence is needed in the throne room," Lacey told her.
"More like demanded," Stacey grumbled.
Addison nodded silently and followed as they led her to the throne room. Her mind was blank as they walked, too emotionally drained to think anything of the severe punishment she would be inflicted with.
Her parents sat in their thrones in the way they did when criminals were presented for judgement. The only difference between the two events was the closed doors that the kingdom could walk through to witness judgement. They kept the doors closed whenever they were prosecuting Addison or the castle staff.
The housemaids left and the knights stood at the entrance. Addison stood before her parents, her eyes focused on the wall space between them and not on them. Her father was the first to speak. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Addison shook her head and said, "No sir." She did, actually, but knew nothing she would say mattered. They'd kill Zed no matter what happened.
"Addison, you snuck out of the castle four times," her mother pointed out. "You know how dangerous it is in Seabrook. Our kingdom is overrun with monstrous Zombies. You could've been killed."
Zed would never hurt her. Despite this knowledge, she nodded solemnly. "Yes mother."
"And to fall under the witchcraft of a Zombie!" her mother went on. "He would have killed you if we hadn't intervened. You would have died if not for us."
There was no witchcraft. Zombies weren't witches, only cursed to eat humans without the potions provided by outcasted witches.
"Thank you mother," Addison said dryly.
Her father then spoke. "I am overcome with grief," he started. "You make our roles as monarchs much harder, Addison. What if people found out about you, sneaking off with the monster."
Addison found herself saying, "His name is Zedekiah," though she knew if she tried defending his honor no good would come from it.
"You don't name street monsters," her father hissed. "Lest they become your property. Your responsibility."
She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from speaking again and swallowed around the lump in her throat. She nodded instead, doing her best to acknowledge him.
"You are to never see him again," her mother insisted. "Only during the execution."
Addison nodded again. "How will you do it?" she asked quietly. "Wh-What is his punishment?"
"Flogging," her mother answered. "The Necrodopolus family will all be executed. We will begin tomorrow at noon. Your presence is required."
Addison nodded and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath to keep herself from crying. Still, tears fell from her eyes and she ducked her head down to avoid her parents hard stares. "What is my punishment?" she breathed out.
She didn't see the exchange of looks between her parents. "You will be married to Princes Charles XIV at the end of autumn."
Addison sucked in a breath. "May I be excused?"
Her father then said, "Go to your room. Lady Lee will meet you at three in the afternoon to begin work on your wedding dress. You are to only leave your room when requested."
Addison left, the two knights close behind her. The knights stood outside her door and blocked her from leaving her room. Not long after she got to her room, Lacey brought her a tray full of food for lunch. Addison heaved the food out of her window and watched as they splattered on the ground.
She went about her day like…like a Zombie. She felt numb and out in a headspace. She didn't react when Lady Lee tightened her corset or poked her with needles and cut off her circulation with ribbon and fabric. She messed around and ate little at dinner, then was escorted back to her bedroom.
Addison had a restless night. She woke up more tired than before. Her stomach rolled and twisted in knots as she remembered that it was execution day.
After breakfast—another meal which she ate scarcely from—Lady Lee dressed her in a pale pink gown with white trim and an obnoxiously wide skirt, then braided her hair elegantly with pearls and flowers within the knots and placed her crown atop her head. Lacey did her makeup, making her lips red and her cheeks pink.
She ate lunch in her room, then was escorted toward the courtyard. Edgar and Stevens let her walk alone once they were feet away from her throne and she walked over and sat, facing the open center and the gates holding back the faces of her kingdom. She could see many Zombies at the forefront and forced her gaze away to her mother beside her.
A few minutes later, the gates opened and crowds rushed in to stand around the execution circle. Not long after that, the Knight Carter dragged out an older Zombie who Addison quickly figured out was Zed's father. She sat and listened vaguely as Carter gave his speech about his crimes against the king and the execution he was due to justify his actions.
The Zombies in the crowd booed and shouted and were near protests. Knights surrounding the crowd made sure to keep the monsters in line though.
The older Zombie was chained into a guillotine. Addison didn't turn her head from the angry crowd. She knew her father lifted his hand, silencing the people and giving the ready signal to the executioner. King Dale brought his hand down and the executioner swung his axe at the rope, releasing the blade and severing Zed's father's head.
Addison felt bile rise in her throat and had to force it back down. Several slaves came and cleaned up the mess and removed the body and guillotine. Addison watched as they brought out the two remaining Necrodopoluses—Zoey a few feet in front of her brother.
Carter began his speech about their crimes against the king and Seabrook. The knights who brought the siblings in separated their chains. Addison watched as he used his sword to slash at Zed's clothes. But the scream that elicited from Zed's mouth meant that had cut through his skin. They pushed Zed to the ground and kicked his side, hissing at him, too quietly for Addison to hear what they said.
They chained Zed's wrists to a post, leaving him on his knees and facing the royal family. Addison looked at him, seeing his eyes soften at the sight of her. Her eyes welled up with tears and she shook her head at him. 'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry,' she mouthed to him.
"Zedekiah Necrodopolus will be flogged to death over a period of four days," Sir Carter proclaimed. "Today, he will be flogged while watching Zohava Necrodopolus hang until her heart stops."
"No," Addison breathed out. Her eyes darted to where they held Zoey, hoisting her into the air and slipping her head into the noose. They let go of her and let her hang, the little girl's scream echoing through the silent courtyard as the noose tightened around her neck.
The executor moved to Zed, a Roman flagellum in his hands with three stripes. Addison watched the first whipping in horror, screaming with Zed as the leather and broken metal and bones ripped into the skin of his back. Her parents whipped their heads and glared at her.
"Addison," her mother scolded.
Addison ignored them. She watched in horror as he received another beating and cried out in pain. If she looked away she'd see Zoey hanging, clawing at the rope around her neck and crying and struggling for breath. Addison's eyes clouded as tears spilled from her eyes. Zed screamed and jumped and flinched as his skin was ripped apart. Zoey screamed and cried and kicked at the air.
Within minutes Addison was sobbing. Zed had gotten four lashes already and was sweating and crying and struggling to catch his breath. Addison couldn't see the skin where he'd been whipped, but by the thinning crowd and their looks of horror on those who remainder faces, it had to have been bad.
The executioner whipped him. Five, six, seven times. With each lash Zed cried and screamed and absolutely thrashed about. By the eleventh, he was panting and his voice was raw.
As the twelfth lashing came down, Addison found herself rushing to her feet and running down the steps, despite her parents calling after her. Her legs moved before her brain could send instructions, but she knew she was in the right in the situation.
Addison leapt over the barrier blocking off the execution area and slid in the dirt before Zed. She cradled his face in her hands and wiped the dirt and sweat and tears off. Addison couldn't speak and cried with him. She moved closer and cradled his head to her chest. She kept her eyes closed to avoid looking at the mess of his shredded flesh.
"I'm sorry," she cried. "I'm so sorry."
